Utility computing with preview and pay feature

Abstract

A remote computing service is provided that allows a user to preview results of processing at a remote computing device on a client device before committing to pay for and download result data. The remote computing device derives a series of preview data sets from the result data processed at the remote computing devices. The client device receives the preview data sets and presents output to a user for inspection, evaluation or examination of various aspects of the result data. By allowing the user to inspect, evaluate or examine the result data based on the series of preview data sets, there are fewer occasions where the user needs to download the result data that may have a large size to the client device. Further, the series of preview data sets is structured so that the result data cannot be reconstructed by harvesting the series of preview data sets. Hence, the user cannot take advantage of the preview data to reconstruct the result data without paying for the result data.

1 . A method for processing data at a first computing device, comprising:
 processing a first data item into a second data item by a first application executed on the first computing device;   generating a series of preview data sets derived from the second data item;   sending the series of preview data sets to a second computing device for presentation, the second computing device incapable of reconstructing the second data item from the series of the preview data sets;   receiving commitment to compensate for the second data item responsive to sending the series of preview data sets to the second computing device; and   making the second data item available responsive to receiving the commitment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving preview parameters from the second computing devices, the series of the preview data sets generated at the first computing device based on the preview parameters. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the series of preview data sets allow the second computing device to simulate operations requiring presence of the second data item in the second computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where in the second data item comprise 3D data representing a 3D object and the preview data comprises 2D image data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making the second data item available comprises granting access of the second data item to two or more users. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the second data item into a third data item by a second application executed on the first computing device responsive to making the second data item available. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising distributing fees received as compensation to two or more parties including at least one party providing the first application on the first computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving selection of the first application from a plurality of applications in the first computing device. 
     
     
         9 . A first computing device for processing a first data item into a second data item, comprising:
 an application server configured to process a first data item into a second data item by a first application executed on the first computing device;   a preview renderer configured to:
 generate a series of preview data sets derived from the second data item; and 
 send the series of preview data sets to a second computing device for presentation, the second computing device incapable of reconstructing the second data item from the series of the preview data sets; 
   a billing support module configured to receive commitment to compensate for the second data item responsive to sending the series of preview data sets to the second computing device; and   making the second data item available responsive to receiving the commitment.   
     
     
         10 . The first computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the preview renderer is further configured to receive preview parameters from the second computing devices, the series of the preview data sets generated at the first computing device based on the preview parameters. 
     
     
         11 . The first computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the series of preview data sets allow the second computing device to simulate operations requiring presence of the second data item in the second computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The first computing device of  claim 9 , where in the second data item comprise 3D data representing a 3D object and the preview data comprises 2D image data. 
     
     
         13 . The first computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the access management module is configured to make the second data item available by granting access of the second data item to two or more users. 
     
     
         14 . The first computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the application server is further configured to process the second data item into a third data item by a second application executed on the first computing device responsive to making the second data item available. 
     
     
         15 . The first computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the billing support module is further configured to distribute fees received as compensation for the second data item to two or more parties including at least one party providing the first application available on the first computing device. 
     
     
         16 . The first computing device of  claim 9 , further comprising content repository configured to store the second data item. 
     
     
         17 . A computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor in a first computing device, cause the processor to:
 process a first data item into a second data item by a first application executed on the first computing device;   generate a series of preview data sets derived from the second data item;   send the series of preview data sets to a second computing device for presentation, the second computing device incapable of reconstructing the second data item from the series of the preview data sets;   receive commitment to compensate for the second data item responsive to sending the series of preview data sets to the second computing device; and   make the second data item available responsive to receiving the commitment.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions to receive preview parameters from the second computing devices, the series of the preview data sets generated at the first computing device based on the preview parameters. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the series of preview data sets allow the second computing device to simulate operations requiring presence of the second data item in the second computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , where in the second data item comprise 3D data representing a 3D object and the preview data comprises 2D image data.